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Photographic 

Sciences 

Corporation 


23  WEST  MAIN  STREET 

WEBSTER,  NY.  14S80 

(716)  872-4503 


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CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 

1980 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notes/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographically  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


Q 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couverture  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagia 


Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaur6e  et/ou  pellicul6e 


I      I    Cover  title  missing/ 


Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 


I      I    Coloured  maps/ 


Cartes  giographiquss  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 


I      I    Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 


Planches  et/ou  illustrations  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Reli6  avec  d'autres  documents 

Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  reliure  serr6e  peut  causer  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distortion  le  long  de  la  marge  intirieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanchei  ajoutAes 
lors  d'une  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  6tait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  At6  filmies. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmentaires: 


L'lnstitut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  6t6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-Atre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique.  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  methods  normals  de  filmage 
sont  indiqu6s  ci-dessous. 


r~~|   Coloured  pages/ 


D 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 


I      I    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 


Pages  restaurdes  et/ou  pellicul6es 

Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxe( 
Pages  d6color6es,  tacheties  ou  piqu6es 

Pages  detached/ 
Pages  ddtachdes 

Showthrough/ 
Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  in^gale  de  I'impression 

Includes  supplementary  materii 
Comprend  du  materiel  suppldmentaire 


I  I  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxed/ 

I  I  Pages  detached/ 

I  I  Showthrough/ 

I  I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I  I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 


Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponibie 

Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  palure, 
etc.,  ont  6t6  filmdes  d  nouveau  de  fagon  A 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


T 

s 
T 

d 

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"1 
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This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  de  reduction  indiqu6  ci-dessous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

30X 

1 

^ 

1 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

1 

e 

itails 
8  du 
lodifier 
r  une 
Image 


The  copy  filmed  here  hat  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbia 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  best  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres 
sion,  or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  primed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — ♦-  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
eniirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  film*  fut  reproduit  grAce  A  la 
gAnArositA  de: 

Library  Division 

Provincial  Archives  of  British  Columbiii 

Les  images  suivantes  ont  At*  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  le  condition  et 
de  le  nettetA  de  l'exemplaire  filmA,  et  en 
conformitA  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplairea  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimAe  sont  filmAs  en  commenqant 
par  le  premier  plat  et  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
originaux  sont  filmAs  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbole  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE  ",  le 
symbole  V  signifie  "FIN  ". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmAs  A  des  taux  de  rAduction  diffArents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  clichA,  il  est  filmA  A  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas,  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


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JOINT  REPORT 


OF  THE 


UNITI  STATES  AND  BRITISH  COMMISSIONERS 


ON  THE 


ALASKAN-CANADIAN  BOUNDARY. 


I3S]OS3X.a:BX3Xi    31,    1805. 


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WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT    PRINTING    OFFICE. 
1898. 


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ALASKAN-CANADIAN  HOLNDARY. 


rDEOElVEBER    31,    1S05. 


WASHINGTON: 

GOVERNMENT    fRINTING    OFFICE. 
1898. 


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ALASKA\-(\\\AI)IAN  HOl'NDAKY. 


The  uiKk'isijj^iH'd,  VVilliain  Ward  Diiriicld,  on  W-- 
half  of  the  Tiiitt'd  States  of  Aiiicrica,  and  William 
iMcderick  Kin^r.  on  hchalf  of  lier  Britannic  Maj- 
esty, duly  a|)j)ointe(l  Coniniissioners  under  and  hy 
virtue  of  the  lirst  article  of  the  (\)nventi()n  of  July 
22,  1S92.  between  the  Tnited  States  and  the  United 
Kinirdoni  of  (ireat  liritain  and  Ireland,  have  the 
honor  to  submit  the  foUowinj^j  joint  rei)ort  of  our 
proceedin,irs  and  transactions  under  the  said  first  ar- 
ticle of  the  Convention,  which  reads  as  follows: 

The  High  Contracting  Parties  agree  that  a  coincident 
or  joint  survey  (as  may  be  found  in  practice  most  conven- 
ient) shall  be  made  of  the  territory  adjacent  to  that  part 
of  the  boundary  line  of  the  L'nited  States  of  America  and 
the  Dominion  of  Canada  dividing  the  territory  of  Alaska 
from  the  Province  of  Hritish  Columbia  and  the  North- 
west Territory  of  Canada  from  the  latitude  of  54"  40' 
North,  to  the  point  where  the  said  boundary  line  encoun- 
ters the  141st  degree  of  longitude  westward  from  the  me- 
ridian of  (ireenwich,  by  Commissioners  to  be  appointed 
severally  by  the  High  Contracting  Parties,  with  a  view  to 
the  ascertainment  of  the  facts  and  data  necessary  to  the 
permanent  delimitation  of  said  boundary  line,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  spirit  and  intent  of  the  existing  treaties  in 
regard  to  it  between  Qreat  Britain  and  Russia  and  be- 
tween the  United  States  and  Russia. 

Application  will   be  made  witliout  delay  to  »,he  respec- 

3 


101 764 


VlCTOi^lAi  y.  u. 


live  Ifjiislativf  hodit-s  for  tlu-  appropriatitins  necessary 
lor  llu"  prosfcntioii  ol'  llic  survey,  and  tlie  Commissioners 
lo  he  appointed  l»y  the  two  ( Jovi'rnnients  sliall  niei'l  at 
Ottawa  within  two  months  alter  said  appropriation  sliall 
have  been  made  and  shall  proceed  as  soon  as  practicable 
tliereafter  l^.  the  active  discharge  mI'   their  duties. 

The  rcspeclive  C'oniin  issioiis  sh.dl  complete  the  survey 
and  submit  their  final  reports  ihereol  within  two  \-cars 
trom  their  lirsl  nun-tin^. 

The  Commissioners  shall,  so  far  as  they  may  be  able 
to  ajj;ree,  make  a  joint  report  to  eaih  oi  the  iwodovorn- 
mcnts,  and  they  shall  also  rei)orl  either  jointly  (tr  sever- 
ally, to  i-ach  (iovernmcnl  on  any  points  upon  which  they 
may  be  unable  to  aurt-e. 

liacli  (iovernmenl  shall  pay  the  exiuMises  of  the  Com- 
mission appointed  by  it. 

ICach  (lovernmi'iit  enjjja^es  to  facilitate  in  evi-ry  pos- 
sible way  any  operations  whicdi,  in  purstumce  of  the  plan 
lo  be  agreed  ujx)!!  by  the  Commissioners,  may  be  con- 
ducted within  its  territory  by  the  Commission  of  the 
other. 

The  High  Contractinu;  Parties  a.u;ree  that,  as  soon  as 
practicable  after  the  report,  or  reports,  of  the  Commis- 
sioners shall  have  been  received,  they  will  proceed  to  con- 
sider and  establish  the  boundary  line  in  (piestion. 

The  Tiist  imH'tinu;  of  the  ( 'oniinissioiu-rs  apiioiiitcd 
iiiidiM"  lliis  aiticle  was  held  in  (  )tta\v;t  on  (he  2Slh 
dav  of  November,  1S92.  liy  the  sii|)|)leineiUary 
Convention  of  the  ^d  iH'hrtiaiy,  iS{)4,  the  time 
for  the  eompletion  of  the  work  and  the  submission 
1)V  the  Commissioners  of  their  joint  or  separate 
reports,  whieli,  hv  tlie  former  eonvention  e.\j)ired 
two  vears  from  the  (kite  of  tlie  first  meetii^^  of  the 
Commissioners — tliat  is  to  sa\',  on  the  .iMh  No- 
vember, 1894,  was  extended  to  the  31st  Deeemher, 
1893. 


5 

'I'hc  livatii'S  iclatini'-  to  and  (IcIiMiiiu-  the  Interna- 
tional honndaiy  line  between  Canada  and  the 
I  nilfd  States  of  America  in  the  reirjon  in  (|iiesti()n 
:ne  the  tii-aty  hetween  Cn-at  liritain  and  Russia, 
dated  2S  \h  In-hniary.  iSjs,  and  the  tieaty  hetween 
the  Tnited  States  and  {Russia  dated  ;uth  March 
1S67 

Our  Commission,  under  said  Article  1  of  the 
Convention  of  iSg2.  applies  only  to  that  j)ortion  of 
the  l>oundar\  deserihed  in  tlu'se  treaties  from  the 
southernmost  |)oint  of  I'rinee  of  Wales  Mand  to 
the  one  hundred  and  lortN-lirst  meridian. 

\\  ith  a  \\vw  to  the   performanei-  of  the  (lut\    ini- 
|)ose(l    upon  the  Commissioners   under  the  Conven- 
tion of  ascertaining    the  facts  and   data  necessarv   to 
the   permanent    delimitation   of  the   houndarv    line, 
and  under  the  option  allowed  them  of  making- cither 
a  coincident    or   joint    sur\iv,  \)y.  Thomas  C.  Men- 
denhall.  at    the  t inu    ( "onmiissioner   for  the    Cnited 
States  (since  rej»laced    l)\-  the  undersii-iied,  William 
Ward   Dullield).  touct  her  with  the  undersiirned  lirit- 
ish    Commissioner,    having-    considered     the    iari>e 
extent  of  unknown  teiritory  involved  and  the  com- 
paratively short  time  allowed   for  the  survey,  deter- 
mined  that    it  was  advisahl'-  to   make  the  survev  a 
joint   one;  that   is.  to   partition  anionic  the  oiricers 
workinir  under  them    respectively   the   territory  to 
he  surveyed,  arrani>in.L>:  at  the  same  time  that  each 
Commissioner  should  detail  attaches  to  accom|)any 
the  several  surveying;  parties  of  the  other,  for  the 
l)urpose  of  ohservino-  and  verifyinn  their  work. 

I  he   United   States  Commissioner  undertook   to 
make  surveys  of  as  precise  a  nature  as  practicahic  of 


the  principal  water  courses  which  traverse  the  coast 
strip,  and  the  British  Commissioner  undertook  to 
make  a  photo-toj)()u;raphical  survey  of  the  moun- 
tainous rc\c^ions  lyin^  between  these  various  water 
courses. 

A  preliminary  trignometrieal  survey  of  the  prin- 
cipal deep-water  passages,  including  the  continental 
shore  line  from  Portland  Canal  to  Lynn  Canal,  had 
already  been  completed  by  the  United  States  Coast 
and  Geodetic  Survey ;  and  careful  determinations 
of  the  geographical  positions  of  Mount  St.  Elias 
(as  hereinafter  given)  and  of  various  mountain 
peaks  in  that  region  were  made  by  the  same  organi- 
zation in  1892,  at  which  time  a  i)artial  survey  of  the 
shore  line  of  N'akutat  Bav  was  also  made.  This 
comj)leted  work  helpetl  to  coordinate  the  detached 
surveys  of  the  various  parties  sent  out  by  the  two 
Commissioners. 

In  pursuance  of  this  plan,  during  the  year  1S93, 
the  following  gentlemen  were  given  j)arties  on  be- 
half of  the  United  States,  namely: 

Mr.  Dickins,  on  the  Unuk  River. 

Mr.  Tittmann,  on  the  Stikine  River. 

Mr.  McGrath,  on  the  Taku  Inlet. 

Mr.  Ogden,  on  the  Taku  River. 

Their  duties  were  to  make  surveys  of  these  water 
ways,  and  to  procure  as  much  information  as  i)os- 
sible  as  to  the  topogra'phy  of  the  adjacent  regions 
Mr.  Driseoll  accomi)anied  Mr.  Ogd-Mi  as  attache 
a))pointed  by  the  British  Commissioner,  and  Mr. 
Robertson  accom])anied  Mr.  Tittmann  in  a  like 
capacity.  Mr.  Dickins'  survey  of  the  Unuk  i'viver 
was   made  in  conjunction   with   Mr.  Saint-Cyr,  of 


the  British  Commission,  who,  besides  making  a 
traverse  of  the  Unuk  River,  j)aid  particuhir  atten- 
tion to  the  mountainous  regions  on  either  side  of 
the  river. 

On  behalf  of  the  British  Commission,  the  foUow- 
ing  ircntlemen  were  pkiced  under  instruetions  to 
make  topograi)ieal  surveys  as  full  and  complete  as 
their  means  would  allow: 

Mr.  Saint-Cyr,  the  Unuk  River  and  the  moun- 
tainous region  on  either  side  of  it. 

Mr.  l\k)t/,  adjoining  him  to  the  west  and  north- 
west towards  Bradlield  Canal. 

Mr.  Talbot,  to  the  south  and  east  of  the  Stikine. 

Mr.  Gibbons,  to  the  west  of  the  Stikine. 

Mr.  Brabazon,  at  Ib^lkham  iiay,  on  the  east  side 
of  Stephen's  Passage. 

Mr.  McArthur,  at  Snettisham  liay,  and  thence  to 
Taku  Inlet  and  Taku  River. 

Mr.  Ogilvie,  to  the  north  and  west  of  Taku  Inlet 
and  east  of  Lynn  Canal. 

The  attaches  of  the  United  States  Commissioner 
accomj)anying  them  were  as  follows: 

Mr.  Flemerwilh  Mr.  Talbot. 

Mr.  Pratt  v/ith  Mr.  (Gibbons. 

Mr.  Ritter  with  Mr.  Brabazon. 

Mr.  Welker  with  Mr.  MciVrthur. 

Mr.  Ilodgkins  with  Mr.  Ogilvie. 

Mr.  Dickins  working  with  Mr.  Saint-Cyr  as  above 
stated. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  the  United  States  Com- 
missioner stationed  Mr.  Morse  at  Sitka  to  make 
astronomical  observations  for  tlie  tletermination  of 
chronometric  differences  of  longitude  between  Sitka, 


8 

as  a  base  station,  and  the  ol)servatorles  established 
by  Mr.  Dickins  at  Burrouirhs  Bay,  with  Dr.  Ed- 
monds as  ol)servcr;  l)y  Mr.  Tittmann  at  Fort  Wran- 
Sell,  with  Mr.  Putnam  as  observer;  and  by  Mr.  Ogden 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Taku  l^iver,  with  Mr.  Freneh 
as  observer.  At  eaeh  of  the  ai)ove  stations  latitude 
and  longitude  were  also  determined.  The  United 
States  steamer  Hasslcr  was  employed  throughout 
the  season  in  making  the  neeessary  exchanges  of 
time,  the  chronometers  being  in  charge  of  Mr.  Lord. 

The  parties  were  on  the  ground  and  the  work 
begun  in  the  middle  of  May;  and  the  earlv  snow 
falls  rendering  mountain  work  impossii)le,  it  was 
found  neeessary  to  retire  from  the  field  in  September. 

During  the  following  year,  1894,  the  following 
l)arties  were  placed  in  the  field : 

On  behalf  of  the  United  States  Commission- 
Mr.  Pratt,  on  the  Chilkat  Inlet  and  River  and  on 
Chilkoot  and  Taiya  Inlets  and  l^n'ya  River,  he  being 
engaged  chiefly  in  triangulation. 

Mr.  Dickins,  on  Unuk  River  and  Chilkat  inlet. 

Mr.  J^emer,  on  Chilkoot  and  Taiya  Inlets. 

Mr.  Ritter,  on  Chilkat  Inlet  and  River. 

Mr.  McGrath,  on  the  coast  westward  from  Vaku- 
tat  Bay  and  at  Lituya  Bay. 

Mr.  Morse,  at  the  Sitka  longitude  station. 

Latitude  and  longitude  were  determined  at  th(; 
observatory  at  Anchorage  Point,  Pyramid  Harbor, 
the  steamer  Jlasslcr  making  the  necessary  chronom- 
eter trij)s  as  before. 

Mr.  llayford  made  the  observations  at  Pyramid 
Harbor,  and  Mr.  Page  had  charge  of  the  chr  ,iome- 
ters  t)n  the  Ifasslcr.. 


On  behalf  of  the  British  Commission- 
Mr.  Saint-Cyr,  at  the  head  of  the  Porthmd  Canal 
and  thence  to  the  Chickamin  River. 

Mr.  Klotz,  around  Bradfield  Canal. 

Mr.  Gibbons,  on  the  north  of  Frederick  Sound 
from  Horn  Cliffs  to  Port  Ilou^rhton. 

Mr.  O^rilvie,  on  the  east  coast  of  Lynn  Canal, 
also  on  the  outer  coast  beyond  Cajjc  vSpencer. 

Mr.  McArthur,  at  the  north  end  of  Lynn  Canal 
and  later  on  the  outer  coast  at  Lituya  Bay. 

Mr.  Talbot,  on  the  west  side  of  Lynn  Canal  to- 
ward Cdacier  Bay. 

Mr.  Robertson  accomj)anied  Mr.  Pratt's  party  as 
attache  for  the  l^ritish  Commissioner.  ICxcept  in 
this  instance,  the  system  of  attaches  was  discon- 
tinued by  mutual  consent  of  the  Commissioners. 

Durino-  the  winter  of  1S94-95,  a  i)arty  under  Mr. 
O.irilvie  ascended  thcTaku  River  for  the  purpose  of 
uaininiT  additional  information  as  to  the  reirion  ex. 
tendino  thence  to  the  vicinity  of  White  and  Taiya 
l^isses,  which  lead  from  Lynn  (Janal  to  the  interior; 
but,  on  account  of  tempestuous  weather,  the  expe- 
dition was  (jbliiicd  to  return,  having-  accomi)lished 
nothinir  beyond  a  traverse  survey  of  part  of  Taku 
River. 

Durin^r  the  season  of  1895,  Mr.  Brabazon  was  de- 
tailed by  the  British  Commissioner  to  the  rejrion 
lyinir  between  the  mouth  of  the  Alsek  River  and 
N'akutat   Bay. 

Mr.  W'elker  and  Mr.  Dickins  were  sent  by  the 
Cnited  wStates  Commissioner  to  connect  the  surveys 
made  in  former  years  by  the  United  States  Coast 
and  Geodetic  Survey  in  Portland  Canal  with   those 


■ 


10 

in  Rcvillairi'ircdo  Channel,  and  to  determine  more 
accurately  the  lon_o;ilU(le  of  the  stations  alon,n-  the 
Canal. 

Mr.    Dickins    and   Mr.   Welker  were    i)laced    in 
chartre  of  parties  in  Alaska,  and  Mr.  Alorse  was  sta- 
tioned at  Seattle  as  astronomer  for  the  redetermina- 
tion i)(  the  differences  of  Ion.<ri.tude   between   that 
point  and  the  observatories  at  Port  Simi)son,  B.  C, 
at  Mary  Island,  Alaska,  and  at  a  station  at  the  head 
of  Portland  Canal.      The  observations   for  latitude 
and   lonnitude  were  made   by    Mr.  Vvcnch  at  I*ort 
Simpson,  by  Mr.  Dickens  at  Mary  Island,  and    by 
Mr.  Welker  at  IJon  Point.  Portland  Canal. 
.   Mr.  N'ounir  was   in   diarize  of  the  chronometers 
carrietl    by    the    steamer   C//y  of  Topcka    between 
Seattle  and  the  stations  at  Port  Simj)S()n  and  Mary 
Island. 

Comparisons  between  I\)rt  Sim])son  and  [.ion 
Point  were  effected  by  the  United  Slates  launch 
Fuca. 

The  results  of  all  these  survevs  a'  'iibited   in 

the  accompanyinir  maps,  namely,  sheeis  Nos,  i  to 
24,  made  on  a  scale  of  ,,.„',,,,,,  with  contour  lines 
of  elevations  250  feet  apart,  from  the  surveys  of  the 
British  Commission;  and  in  maps  Nos.  i  to  12  of 
the  United  States  Commission,  made  on  the  same 
scale. 

'1  hese  maps  have  been  a_irreed  to  bv  us,  subject  to 
the  limitations  hereinafter  set  forth,  as  correct  repre- 
sentations of  the  to|)o,o|-aphical  features,  and  have 
i)een  signed  by  us  to  testify  thereto,  in  submittinir 
two  sets  of  maps  which  cover  the  same  <rround  and 
which,  to  a  larue  extent,  have  been  i)repared  inde- 


11 


pendently  in  the  offices  of  the  respective  Commis- 
sioners at  VVashinoton  and  Ottawa,  it  is  understood 
that  wherever  there  is  a  tUfference  between  the 
mai)s,  either  from  different  methods  of  representin^^r 
the  topo(rrai)hy  or  from  discrepancy  as  to  the  posi- 
tion of  natural  features  or  otherwise,  such  chfiference 
is  to  he  interpreted  by  reference  to  the  hereinbefore- 
described  scheme  of  partition  of  the  survey  work 
between  the  respective  Commissions;  and  where  the 
surveys  cover  the  same,  or  nearly  the  same  (Ground, 
the  maps  are  to  be  taken  as  mutually  ex])lanatorv, 
ha\in_u-  reu:artl  to  the  conditions  under  which  each 
survey  was  made.  The  continental  shore  line,  from 
latitude  54  40',  to  I^)int  Coverdon,  at  the  south- 
westerly entrance  to  I^ynn  Canal,  having;  been  sur- 
veyed by  the  United  States  Coast  and  Geodetic 
Survey,  the  United  States  mai)s  shall,  in  case  of 
discrepancy,  n:overn  as  to  the  shore  line;  so  also 
from  \'akutat  Bay  to  the  one  hundred  and  fortv-first 
meridian,  jkit  from  Point  ('overdon  northwesterly 
to  \'akutat  Bay,  including::  Cdacier  Ba\'  and  the 
other  bays  which,  with  the  exception  to  the  entrance 
to  IJtuya  Bay,  have  not  been  so  surveyed,  the  maps 
of  the  British  Commission  shall  trovern.  The  shore 
line  of  the  islands  of  the  Alaskan  archii)ela,<i:o  have 
been  mapped  accordin<r  to  the  surve)'s  of  the  Ignited 
States  Coast  and  Cieodetic  Survey,  wherever  such 
survey  has  been  made;  elsewhere  the  best  informa- 
tion available  has  been  used. 

To  show  the  toposrraphical  features  of  the  coun- 
try in  another  way,  we  herewith  submit  ])hoto- 
,«»:raphic  views,  bein^r  contact  prints  from  the  jiho- 
tographic  ne<ratives  of  the  oflicersof  the    British 


12 


Commission,  whose  work  was  laru:cly  executed  as 
to  the  detail,  or  "filling-  in"  hy  means  of  these  views, 
according;-  to  the  method  known  as  i)hoto-toi)o.ii:ra- 
nhv,  the  framework  hcuvr  laid  out  l)\'  triamrulations 
which  are  shown  in  sheets  Nos.  25,  26,  27,  and  28 
of  the  British  Commission.  These  views  will  also 
serve  as  a  jjcrmanent  record  of  the  Held  work.  Plans 
of  the  trianj2,"ulation  executed  hy  the  officers  of  the 
United  States  Commission  are  submitted  herewith 
on  sheet  No.  13  of  the  I'nited  States  Commission. 

IJesides  the  information  contained  in  the  ma|)S, 
we  have  to  report  as  to  llu'  point  of  commencement 
named  in  the  'i'reaty  of  1S25,  that  the  latitudes  of 
Capes  Muzon  anil  Chacon  as  determined  hy  the 
lirilish  observers  are  as  follows: 

Cape  Muzon,  54"  39'  50". 

Cape  Chacon,  54    41'  2^". 

As  determined  l)\'  the  I'nited  Slates  observers 
these  latitudes  are: 

(-ape  Muzon,  54"  39'  48". 

Cape  Chacon,  54    41'  22". 

These  results  are  so  nearlv  alike  that  there  is  no 
practical  discrepancy  between  them. 

Also,  the  summit  of  Mount  St.  IClias  is  by  the 
best  determination  in  latitude  60  17'  35.10"  and 
l()n_o;itude  140"  55'  47.32",  \)v\nir  2S. 830  nautical  miles 
from  the  line  of  coast  west  of  X'akutat  Bay  and  2.41 
statute  miles  east  of  the  one  hundred  and  forty-lirst 
meridian. 

We  conceive  it  unnecessary  for  us,  havinu;  Jire- 
pared  ma|)s  showinii^  so  much  detail,  to  enter  into  a 
lengthy  description  of  the  topo,«>;raphy.  It  may  be 
well,  however,  to  add  some  remarks  upon  the  mode 


of  occurrence  of  timl)cr.  since  this  is  not  shown  on 
the  nKii)s. 

Speakin.ir  l)r(UKlly.  we  may   say  tliat  the  avera.LTC 
aUitiule  of  the  tinii)er  line  hetween  Burroii.^h's  Bay 
and  I  Ann  Canal  is  2,500  feet,  hein.ir  a  httle  hi,irher 
in  the  soutli  and  a  little  lower  in  the  north.     Timber 
line   is  primarily  a  matter  of   heat,  so  that   altitude 
and    latitude   have   similar   effect.      However,   in    a 
countrv  of   which   so  much    has  but   recently  been 
uncovered  from  srlaciers,  timber  line   is  affected   by 
another  factor,  and  that   is  the   presence  ol   soil   f()r 
trees  to  take  root.     As  the  foot  of  a  mountain    is 
fust  exposed,  the  forest  starts  there  and  in  time,  as 
exposure  and  conseiiuent  (lisinte|Lnation  take  place, 
creei)s  upward.      Now,  there  are  many  points  in  the 
area  above  referred  to  where  this  process  of  forest 
creei)inir  has  not  yet  reached  the  limit  set  by  climatic 
conditions,  and  hence  we  hnd  timber  lines  near  each 
other,  but  varyincr  in  altitude  by  hundreds  of  feet. 
This  is.  most  noticeable  on  the  west  side  of   Lynn 
Canal.      Naturally,  we  would  expect  the  timber  line 
in  the  south  to  be  higher  than  in  the  north;  but,  as  a 
^  matter  of  fact,  it  is  the  reverse  there,  bein<i  scarcely 
*  2,000  feet  for  the  former  and  nearly  3,000  feet  for  the 
latter.      In  oencral,  the  timber  line  on  the  east  side 
of  Lynn  Canal  is  somewhat  hiirher  than  on  the  west 
side.      Around   Juneau,    the    timber   line   does   not 
ri'ach  the  2,000  feet  limit.      Between  the  entrance 
of  Cilacier  Hay,  across  Dundas  and  Taylor  Bays  and 
Cape  Spencer,  the  timber  line  may  be  })ut  at  2,000 
feet  above  the  sea.     In  (Glacier  Bay,  northward  from 
the  entrance,  the  timber  line  rapidly  descends,  and 
in  the  northern  part  the  forest  practically  disappears 


fsmmi 


M 


altoii^ctluT.  In  fact,  al<nii>  many  of  tin-  smalli-r  bays 
tlu'iv,  no  wood  wlialcvcT  is  found.  'IMiis  phenome- 
non is  j)lainly  indicative  of  the  recent  recession  of 
the  vast  comj)le.\  of  glaciers.  On  the  outside,  l)e- 
tween  Lituya  IJay  and  Ca|)e  vSi)encer,  the  line  is 
barely  2,000  feet,  while  in  \'aUutat  Hay  it  is  1,500 
feet.  Most  of  the  mountains  between  \'akutat  liay 
and  IJtuya  Bay  are  not  timbered  at  all;  but  this  is 
j)robably  due — up  to  2,000  feet — to  the  fact  already 
stated,  /.  i\,  that  the  recession  of  the  irlaciers  is  too 
recent  to  admit  of  the  necessarv  disinteirration  for 
ve_<>^etation  to  spring-  up,  as  well  as  to  the  effect  upon 
the  temperature  of  the  nearness  of  the  existinjr 
ij^laciers. 

The  altitude  of  the  timber  line  at  various  points 
is  as  follows: 


Maxinuiin.       Average. 


Portland  Canal 

U  lui  k  R  i  V  e  r , 

Hurrough's  Hay , 

Brad  field's  Canal , 

South  of  Stikine 

North   of  Stikine 

Thomas  Hay , 

Endicolt  Arm , 

Snettishain  Hay 

Takii  Inlet 

Fast  side  Lynn  Canal 

Head  of  Lynn  Can.l 

West  side  of  Lynn  Canal 

Outside,  west  of  Cape  Spencer  . 


2,  f)00 

2,  900 
2,  800 

2,  7CXJ 
2,  700 


2,  500 
2,  700 


2,  yoo 

3.000 
2,400 
1,500 


2,  5(JO 
2,  600 
2,  500 
2,  500 
2,  5(J() 
2,  500 
2,  500 
2,  300 
2,  400 
2,  200 
2,  500 
2,  500 
2,  000 


It  is  understood  and  agreed  that  in  sioning  this 
joint  report  and  signing  and  accepting  the  maps 
they  have  submitted,  it  is  not  therefore  affirmed  or 


iulniittcd  l)\  the  ( 'oinniissioiu'is  that  tluTo  is  au- 
thority for  tlic  a|)i)licati()n  of  the  nanus  used  to 
ilcsiji:natc  the  various  places,  mountains,  hays,  chan- 
nels, islands,  etc. 

In  witness  whereof  we  have  liereunto  set  our 
hands  at  Albany,  New  \'orU,  this  j.st  day  of  De- 
cember, 1S05. 

\V.  \V.  I  )r  II' 1 1.1.0, 

United  Stales  C  ouniiissioinr. 

W.  !•.  Ki.\<;, 
I/cr  Majesty's  Coniiiiissioiier. 


